Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 44

Nilavuku Enmel Ennadi Kobam Movie Review

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Would you attend an ex’s wedding if you were sent a physical invite home after months of radio silence?

Written and directed by Dhanush, the 2025 Tamil romantic comedy Nilavuku Enmel Ennadi Kobam (Why is the moon mad at me?) stars Pavish Narayan as protagonist Prabhu, a chef in talks with a young woman named Preethi (Priya Prakash Varrier) for marriage. But before he can make up his mind, he reconnects with his ex-girlfriend Nila (Anikha Surendran) for closure—reopening old wounds.

The opening minutes of Nilavuku Enmel Ennadi Kobam establish Preethi as a practical young woman who is charmed by Prabhu and hopes they can build a happy marriage, if he can let go of his past. She even encourages him to seek closure with Nila so they can start their own chapter on a clean slate.

Comedic flashbacks show how Prabhu met Nila in college through his friend Ravi (Venkatesh Menon). Nila, the best friend of Ravi’s girlfriend Sriya (Rabiya Khatoon), meets Prabhu when he and his buddy Rajesh (Mathew Thomas) agree to cook for their anniversary party. One of the funniest bits in the film is a sequence where Ravi and Sriya keep getting overly mushy around their friends, while a soft chant of “cringe couple” plays in the background multiple times.

The first forty minutes or so of Nilavuku Enmel Ennadi Kobam are entertaining, but things start to go downhill when Nila and Prabhu introduce each other to their families, despite still being in college. What’s with these scripts pushing college kids to get married right away? Anyway… Nila’s super-rich dad (R. Sarathkumar) isn’t thrilled about her wanting to marry Prabhu and starts crashing their dates, which is both unrealistically absurd and hilariously over-the-top. Besides, Nila’s personality is reduced to “I love food”, we practically learn nothing else about her.

Mathew Thomas as Rajesh is the most fun and relatable character in the film. He’s a simple, supportive friend who puts up with all of Prabhu’s antics to win over Nila, whether it’s being ditched in the middle of the night so Prabhu can go on a long drive with Ravi, Sriya, and Nila, or being asked to abandon his own bike so Prabhu can ride with Nila in the rain.

Despite being a romantic comedy, there’s no real chemistry between Prabhu and Nila, which will most likely make viewers root for Preethi. And as if two love interests weren’t enough, the second half of the film introduces yet another young woman who falls for Prabhu. It’s the platonic bromance between Prabhu and Rajesh that’s the most fun to watch in Nilavuku Enmel Ennadi Kobam. From celebrating small milestones to weeping together over heartbreaks, they’re what you’d call ‘friendship goals’.

The musical score is quite memorable, though a few tracks, while catchy on their own, don’t blend well with the storytelling. For instance, once Nila and Prabhu start dating, a song-and-dance sequence follows, which should’ve been vibrant and energetic but is surprisingly slow. On the other hand, the track that plays when Prabhu reunites with Nila perfectly captures the tense mood of the moment.

Look, we all know there are only two likely outcomes for a story like this. And despite being high on comedy and friendship, director Dhanush chooses the more conventional ending. Sort of. A dramatic, almost tragic subplot is thrown in to add weight to the breezy romance, but it ends up making the climax feel dragged out. So when most of the characters are crying in the final act, you’re likely just waiting for it all to be over.

Overall, this is still a fun one-time watch that misses the chance to break the mold and deliver a more memorable story.

Rating: 3 out of 5. Watch the film on Prime Video.

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Nushrratt Bharuccha Is Back in Chhorii 2 Trailer, Which Looks Spookier

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Remember the 2021 horror film Chhorii, where Nushrratt Bharuccha played Sakshi, a city girl who finds herself trapped with a secretive rural family, hidden away in the middle of endless sugarcane fields?

Well, director Vishal Furia is back with a sequel, and the trailer for Chhorii 2 already promises to up the scare factor. The visuals look sharper, the atmosphere more ominous, and the ghostly elements even creepier this time around.

The first film followed Sakshi, a pregnant NGO worker who takes refuge in her driver’s remote village home after her husband gets into trouble with ruthless loan sharks. There, she’s cared for by the seemingly kind Devi, until things start to unravel. Sakshi begins seeing mysterious boys playing around the house, only to learn they’re ghosts. As the haunting escalates, Devi’s true nature and the village’s horrifying secrets come to light, putting Sakshi’s life and her unborn child’s too at risk.

Chhorii 2 picks up a few years after Sakshi’s terrifying escape. She now has a seven-year-old daughter, Ishani, who suffers from a rare medical condition. When Ishani suddenly goes missing, Sakshi is forced to return to the very village she once barely escaped. Evil forces seem to want her daughter, and now the stakes are even higher. Can Sakshi protect her child and survive the nightmare all over again?

We never expected Chhorii to get a sequel, but this new chapter feels promising. Among the fresh additions to the cast is Soha Ali Khan, who appears to be playing a sinister supernatural entity. Judging by the trailer, the sequel promises not only more spine-chilling thrills but also a deeper emotional core centered around motherhood and fear.

Chhorii 2 hits screens on April 11. Prepare to be haunted all over again.

Watch the trailer below.

‘Picture This’ Vs ‘Five Blind Dates’: How Different Are They?

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Well, well, well…. After winning over fans with her ‘Bridgerton’ appearance, Simone Ashley is excited about finally doing her dream film, a romantic comedy! She stars in “Picture This”, which is a British rehash of its Australian cousin “Five Blind Dates.” Both are from the creative mind of writer Nathan Ramos-Park, yet they dance to their own cultural beats. Here’s what sets the two movies apart.

Setting the Scene: London vs. Sydney

In “Picture This,” we follow Pia, portrayed by the gorgeous Simone Ashley. Pia is a London-based photographer whose life takes a whimsical turn when a spiritual guru predicts she’ll meet the love of her life within her next five dates. Cue the meddling family and a parade of suitors, including the intriguing Charlie, played by Hero Fiennes Tiffin.

Hop over to Australia, and we meet Lia, brought to life by Shuang Hu in “Five Blind Dates.” Lia’s struggling tea shop and her sister’s impending wedding set the stage for a fortune teller’s prophecy: her soulmate awaits among her next five dates. With family and friends orchestrating setups, Lia embarks on a comedy of errors.

Cultural Flavors and Family Ties

“Picture This” immerses us in British-Indian culture, showcasing vibrant wedding festivities and familial expectations that will resonate with viewers. Pia’s interactions with her strict mom are the funniest, who just wants to see her daughters married and ‘settled’.

Meanwhile, “Five Blind Dates” offers a glimpse into Chinese-Australian life, highlighting themes of filial piety and the balancing act between personal dreams and family duties. Lia’s journey is an exploration of cultural identity and the pursuit of happiness.

Plot differences

In Five Blind Dates, Lia actually goes on dates with five different guys. Meanwhile, Pia in Picture This only meets three, and she’s already exhausted. In both films, the dates fall somewhere between awkward, cringey, and unintentionally hilarious. With a few minor tweaks, the lineup is pretty similar: first, there’s the rich but narcissistic oddball; then the nerdy-cute guy who, unfortunately, has a crush on someone close to Pia; and finally, the hot athletic guy suggested by their sister, who turns out to be charmingly clueless, if not completely brainless.

But you know what’s most similar in both films?

The fact that they both have a crisp under 2 hour runtime, which means there isn’t enough time to establish romantic chemistry with any character, let alone confuse the viewers about who they should choose in the end. The ‘endgame’ is pretty clear quite from the beginning.

And in both films, the lead seems better off just chilling and running her small business with her best-friend.

Final Verdict

While “Picture This” and “Five Blind Dates” share a common narrative thread, they are both predictable romantic comedies that are disappointingly thin on romance. But if you can get on board with that, they are both ‘okay-ish’ movies to watch on the weekend with some friends and buckets of popcorn.  

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‘Gel Boys’ Review: Situationship Hell Ft Siam Square

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Ah to not be a teen anymore! What joy. To not be drowning in anxiety over whether your crush likes you back or even looks your way. To not have to wait for hours to get a response. To not have to second-guess and burn in your own self-imagined hell of rejection, before even a confession can be made. Yep, some of us just don’t miss being a teen trapped in hormonal angst. But re-living some of those experiences through a series like ‘Gel Boys’ can be frustratingly fun.

Directed by Boss Naruebet Kuno, Junior Naron Cherdsoongnern, the Thai series follows New Chayapak Tunprayoon as teen protagonist Fou4Mod (yes, that’s his name), who falls for senior Wichianmas (Pide Monthapoom Sumonvarangkul), after the latter hits on him. The two start bond by getting their nails done together, however, Wichianmas is only using Fou4Mod as a distraction, while crushing hard on his own friend Bua (Leon Zech), with whom he often records TikTok dances. Fou4Mod starts using his best-friend Baabin (PJ Mahidol Pibulsonggram) as bait to make Wichianmas jealous, leading to a chaotic love triangle, or square in this case.

Honestly, the trailer for ‘Gel Boys’ didn’t look very interesting, promising the usual high-school themed love story, with unfamiliar fresh faces. But giving the first episode a chance is all you need, and if the dynamic direction style doesn’t immediately suck you into the chaos of teen crushes, confusion, heartache and heartbreaks, this show is not for you. I was instantly bowled over by the vibrant graphics, the stickers seamlessly integrated into scenes, and the teens constantly scrolling through their phones. It might not resonate with those who grew up without smartphones in school, but it’s an all-too-real portrayal of the current generation.

All the teen protagonists of ‘Gel Boys’ love singing, dancing, and are often hanging out at the dynamic Siam Square, a popular shopping market area in Bangkok. They all have their ‘biases’ (no, not the discriminatory ‘bias’, but the phrase used for a favorite artist within a group), go-to bands, and exclusive playlists. Fou4Mod is a lead singer in his school band, almost always hanging out with the same crew, including Baabin. Pide Monthapoom Sumonvarangkul as the flirty senior Whichanmas gives off a shady vibe, which is the whole point of the character, but it also makes it kind of hard to understand Fou4Mod’s growing crush and obsession with him. (Yeah, yeah, love is blind and all that.)

The background music is fantastic, incorporating a lot of synth-pop beats that give the show a lightly nostalgic feel mixed with vibrant modern tones. It also features a range of popular Thai-pop songs and even a few fleeting moments of K-pop hits, including tracks by BTS and BLACKPINK – two of the biggest boy and girl bands in the world. Music is also a huge mode of bonding between the characters, with a hilarious little sub-plot about some of them sharing exclusive curated playlists online, with more songs shared implying stronger mutual interest.

‘Gel Boys‘ primarily explores teen vulnerabilities and the concept of keeping someone “on the hook”: leading a person on by making them think you’re interested, while actually treating them as a backup as you chase someone else. Wichianmas is smitten with Bua, who keeps him on the hook. In turn, Wichianmas strings along Fou4Mod, who then drags Baabin everywhere, especially when Wichianmas isn’t around. Will someone finally grow a spine, end the “situationship,” and start dating seriously?

Well, it takes a whole seven episodes for one of them to muster the courage to confess their love, and it might not be the person you expect. Until then, the boys keep getting their nails done in a small shop in Siam Square, which are more like dates than just two people hanging out. And they don’t just go for simple manicures with a bit of glitter, but opt for elaborate 3D nail art featuring cute characters, fruits, stickers, and all sorts of quirky add-ons. Hence the title Gel Boys, which is also the nickname Wichianmas gives to Fou4Mod.

Seven episodes long, ‘Gel Boys’ is fast-paced, and dynamic, although there are some slow-mo shots dwelling on character faces to let their facial expressions speak. Chayapak Tunprayoon is striking as Fou4Mod, a precocious teen who is only in Grade 10, but desperate to be in a stable relationship. Episode 1 starts with a hilarious end to his ‘situationship’ with a girl, who refuses to give any labels to their relationship. Chayapak Tunprayoon shares both the charm and looks of Bilkin Putthipong Assaratanakul from ‘I Told Sunset About You’, and like Bilkin, he has a knack for stealing the spotlight in emotional scenes. I don’t have a lot to say about Pide as Wichianmas, the character is weird, suspicious, and the actor doesn’t necessarily bring a distinct flavor to the role.

While Fou4Mod was the clear protagonist in ‘Gel Boys‘, actors PJ Mahidol Pibulsonggram and Leon Zech emerge as big surprises in the second half of the series as Baabin and Bua. In the beginning, Baabin and Bua appear to be mere bystanders in the budding romantic confusion between Fou4Mod and Wichianmas, but as things get more serious, their characters are pushed to the forefront. Leon Zech’s Bua appears morally grey at first but proves to be just as emotionally vulnerable as Fou4Mod, grappling with more complex identity issues due to being half-Thai and looking like a foreigner.

PJ Mahidol Pibulsonggram as Baabin is, without debate, the most likable protagonist, who is always by Fou4Mod’s side and one of the rare characters in ‘Gel Boys’ who places more value on friendship than romantic entanglements. At first, we only get to see him as the sweet, quiet friend whom Fou4Mod drags around everywhere, but in the second half, Baabin reveals himself to be a small box of big emotions. By the end of ‘Gel Boys’, I only cared about what was to become of Baabin.

Watching the teens struggle with their emotions and desires can also be exasperating, especially in the penultimate episode, where all four boys get into an awkward video-call for a confrontation to clarify things. Well, it doesn’t help as much. So, the climactic episode is a mixed bag, where some get their ‘happy ending’, while others remain trapped in the blurry dimensions of modern ‘situationship’.

Rating: 3.5 on 5 stars. ‘Gel Boys’ is on iQIYI.

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Adolescence Ending Explained: How the Teen Drama Unfolds

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Let’s go through the plot of Adolescence and unpack the slightly ambiguous ending of the 4-episode British drama series that might’ve left some viewers thinking, “Wait, that’s it?”

The series kicks off with a gripping scene: 13-year-old Jamie Miller is arrested from his home by armed police on suspicion of murdering his schoolmate, Katie Leonard. The cops move in like they’re taking down a dangerous criminal, leaving Jamie’s family stunned and terrified. Jamie breaks down, crying and insisting that he didn’t do anything. His father believes him…. at first at least. But when the police show CCTV footage of Jamie attacking Katie in a parking lot, the same place her body was found, even his dad is left in disbelief, crushed by shock and shame.

Also Read: ‘Adolescence’ Series Review: Gritty Take on Juvenile Crime

Despite the damning footage, Jamie continues to claim that it’s not him. But it is him. The second episode deepens the mystery as detectives start speaking to Jamie’s schoolmates. That’s when a disturbing backstory starts to unfold. Katie had been bullying Jamie online, calling him an “incel.”

For those unfamiliar with the term, “incel” is short for “involuntary celibate.” It refers to people, mostly young men, who believe they are unable to attract romantic or sexual partners despite wanting to. Some corners of the internet have turned the term into a toxic subculture—filled with anger, misogyny, and a warped view of women as the enemy. Adolescence doesn’t lean into the extremist elements, but it shows how these ideas can quietly seep into the minds of impressionable teens like Jamie, shaping how they see themselves and others.

Episode three focuses on Jamie’s therapy sessions with a court-appointed mental health professional. As they talk, Jamie opens up about what really happened. He reveals that Katie’s private photos had been leaked by a boy she trusted, and everyone at school—including Jamie—had seen them. Jamie says he approached Katie afterward to ask her to a dance, thinking her emotional state might make her more likely to say yes. But when Katie turned him down harshly—telling him she wasn’t that desperate—he felt humiliated. That’s when the bullying from her side began.

The therapy scenes offer a sobering look at Jamie’s fractured mindset. Spending hours online had warped his perception of women and relationships. He admits to thinking of himself as ugly and unworthy of attention, influenced by online figures who feed toxic narratives about masculinity and entitlement. The show suggests Jamie wasn’t born a monster—he was shaped by the world around him.

The final episode is set 13 months after Jamie’s arrest. It’s his father’s birthday, and the family is trying to hold it together. Jamie’s mom is cooking a nice breakfast, trying to create some sense of normalcy. But things take a turn when they find the words “nonse” spray-painted on the dad’s work van. (For international viewers, “nonse” is British slang for a sex offender, especially a paedophile.) Later, while shopping for paint to cover the graffiti, the family is recognized at a hardware store, making the day even more uncomfortable.

As they drive back, Jamie calls them. “Dad, I’m sorry, but I’m going to plead guilty,” he says. It’s a gut punch, but also a form of closure. After months of denial and emotional torment, Jamie finally decides to admit to the crime. His family is devastated, but also relieved—at least the legal limbo is ending.

The final scenes are quiet but powerful. Jamie’s parents are left alone with their grief, still trying to understand how their shy, smart son ended up capable of something so horrific. The show ends with Jamie’s father breaking down, sobbing into his son’s pillow.

Adolescence doesn’t spell everything out. It leaves viewers with uncomfortable questions about parenting, digital influence, and teenage vulnerability. But that’s what makes its abrupt ending hit so hard—it mirrors real life, where closure is rarely neat, and the answers don’t always come. But off-course, since this is a fictional show, some viewers would be left disappointed by the fact that the show never reveals what really transpired between Jamie and the girl on the fateful night that she was murdered.

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Revelations Movie Review: Crime, Christ, and Delusions

Rating: 3 out of 5.

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A pastor is convinced of receiving divine revelations from God about ‘punishing’ the criminal who might’ve kidnapped his son, his actions obstructing a detective’s investigation into another missing case.

Created by Yeon Sang-ho (director) and Kyu-Seok Choi (writer), the 2025 Korean movie Revelations is a dark drama/thriller that begins with a girl nervously walking to her church as a creepy man stalks her. Unaware that the man is a stalker, Pastor Min-chan (Ryu Jun-yeol) encourages the stranger to join his church. But once Min-chan learns the man is an ex-convict named Yang-rae (Shin Min-jae), an unfortunate chain of events changes not just their lives, but also that of detective Yeon-hee (Shin Hyun-been), who has been tailing Yang-rae for both personal and professional reasons.

Violence, abuse, religious mania, and PTSD are some of the core themes explored in Revelations over its two-hour runtime. It’s a broody thriller with three distinct protagonists: the criminal, the pastor, and the cop; although Ryu Jun-yeol’s Pastor Min-chan gets the most screen time. In his first scene, he appears to be a kind, benevolent man of God, but as the plot progresses, he scarily morphs into a manic religious zealot suffering from pareidolia, a condition where a person perceives deeper visual meanings in their surroundings. For instance, Min-Chan often interprets cloud patterns or wall patterns as Jesus Christ, or as some other religious motif.

The young girl in the introductory scene goes missing, and Yang-rae is suspected to have kidnapped her, with ample proof indicating his guilt. Shin Hyun-been is the right amount of sinister and creepy in his limited screen-time as former convict Yang-rae. The character is a violent criminal shaped by a tragic, abuse-ridden childhood, with his past helping him in attaining a lighter sentence for a serious crime. Revelations raises a compelling question: do criminals like Yang-rae deserve a second chance? Interestingly, the script offers answers as well by giving the ex-convict a decisive ending, one shaped by the actions of those around him.

Yeon-hee’s connection with the former convict Yang-rae is explained through brief flashbacks, and it’s these scenes that could’ve benefited from more screen time to help viewers establish a stronger connection with the detective’s character – especially since she is pushed to the forefront as the climax approaches. Both Pastor Min-chan and Yeon-hee abhor the ex-convict Yang-rae, but their belief systems differ greatly. For the pastor, Yang-rae represents “Satan’s child,” while for the detective, he is simply a criminal who should’ve remained behind bars.

The ending is dramatic, conventional, and slightly predictable. If you enjoy thrillers with morally grey characters and some religious drama, this is pretty good one-time watch.

Rating: 3 on 5. Watch ‘Revelations’ on Netflix.

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Baban Baban Ban Vampire Episode 11 Review

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Okay, so now we know enough about the new vampire Nagayoshi, who tries to kill the vampire hunter Sakamoto and nearly gets away with it! Episode 10 of Baban Baban Ban Vampire delivers a big twist in the story: Nagayoshi’s full name is Nagayoshi Mori, and he is, in fact, protagonist Ranmaru Mori’s older brother. Since the characters are based on historical figures, flashbacks in the anime reveal Nagayoshi to be an infamous samurai who was once nicknamed as the “devil” due to his ruthless nature and violent temper.

Titled Love, the Cross, and the Vampire, episode 11 of Baban Baban Ban Vampire opens with a tense yet mildly comical sequence of both brothers trying to brutally kill each other. Nagayoshi Mori gains the first advantage by instantly chopping off one of Mori’s arms, while revealing his deep hatred for his sibling over a past misunderstanding. “A battle between two vampires can only end in one’s death,” Nagayoshi tells his younger brother, as they attack each other relentlessly.

Franken is already grievously wounded, and Sakamoto is recovering from his own near-fatal injuries, so it’s only Kaoru who is aware of what’s happening between the vampires. But can the teen girl be of any help, or will she only prove to be a hurdle in their fight? Although, in another twist, Kaoru’s attempts to help lead to hilarious results and revelations.

This edition was a mixed bag, but given the flashbacks and the sibling rivalry, it’s engaging until the last minute, even though the animation quality wasn’t up to the mark. Nagayoshi’s character design and movements looked a little awkward, and despite a gory face-off, the animation fails to create a terrifying atmosphere.

The best part about this episode of Baban Baban Ban Vampire is how it introduces yet another unexpected love triangle, and in a very comical manner. Even though Ranmaru Mori is intent on treating Rihito like a pet, kept with the intention of devouring when the time comes, it seems the vampire might be developing genuine feelings for the boy. He is, after all, a seventeen-year-old boy-vampire who never ages, with a preference for 18-year-old victims.

Watch Baban Baban Ban Vampire on Netflix.

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Sakamoto Days Episode 11 Review: Casino Day Out

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Sakamoto’s crew agrees to Wutang’s bizarre proposition of battling it out at a casino. The rules are simple: whoever makes more money at the end of the day wins. If Wutang wins, he gets to take Lu back to China so she can become the next triad boss. If Sakamoto’s side wins, Lu can continue her new life as Sakamoto’s store employee, with the occasional violent showdowns, of course. More importantly, Wutang also promises to reveal who’s behind the bounty on Sakamoto’s head.

Titled Casino Battle, episode 11 of Sakamoto Days sees Sakamoto, Lu, and Shin trying their best to win as much money as they can at the casino. In episode 10, we saw how Wutang thoroughly reveres Lu, and possibly even has a hopeless crush on her, so this episode includes a cutesy flashback showing how they’ve known each other since childhood, and why Wutang is such a big fan of hers.

It’s fun to see the familiar characters spruce themselves up in formalwear for the casino’s strict dress cod. While Shin and Sakamoto suit up in black Tuxedos, Lu wears a chic blue dress. But despite their posh clothes, all the characters are ready to kick butt if needed, especially with Wutang’s men crawling the casino armed to the teeth. Shin obviously uses his mind-reading powers to win some of the card games, but the gang has a uphill task beating Wutang.

Overall, this was a fast-paced, entertaining episode, but it could’ve been more comedic, especially given the casino setting. It’s a bit odd that the creators didn’t include any drunken brawls, especially since casinos usually serve complimentary drinks, relying on getting patrons tipsy so they’ll spend (and lose) more.

The last few minutes of the episode introduces four new characters, all blood-thirsty serial killers, hired to take out Sakamoto. As if dealing with Wutang wasn’t enough, the group has a whole new set of challenges ahead.

You can watch the series on Netflix or Crunchyroll.

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‘Adolescence’: Gritty Take on Juvenile Crime, But Where’s The Closure?

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

13-year-old Jamie Miller wets his pants when armed cops storm into his house early in the morning, to arrest the boy on suspicion of murdering a schoolmate. With clinching evidence stacked against him, those around him struggle to understand why the young boy did what he did.

Created by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne, the 4-episode mini-series ‘Adolescence’ stars Owen Cooper as Jamie, the central protagonist of the tale, the 13-year-old suspected of brutally stabbing a girl to death. Jamie’s parents Eddie Miller (Stephen Graham) and Manda Miller (Christine Tremarco) are stunned with his arrest, convinced the cops have ‘the wrong person’. But DI Luke Bascombe (Ashley Walters) is very confident in their call, indicating the detectives had concrete proof against the juvenile offender.

Divided into four chapters, sharp viewers would notice by the first episode that each episode of ‘Adolescence’ is shot in one long take. This not only lends the series a dynamic theatrical atmosphere, it also adds an edgy tempo to the tale, like the viewer is right behind the camera, with a front-seat view to the events unfolding in the story. The first episode is the most tense, which begins with a very mundane conversation between two cops about apples, then changes gear to track armed cops breaking into the Miller home to arrest Jamie Miller. There’s panic, confusion, fear, and the viewers along with the Millers slowly learn what the case is all about.

So, while the first episode largely takes place at the building where Jamie is held, and questioned, the second episode takes place at Jamie’s school, where DI Luke Bascombe and colleague Misha Frank (Faye Marsay) arrive to question students and find out the motive for Jamie’s crime. It’s at school where the adult detectives learn just how different the world of adolescents and teens is. Cryptic emojis, unfamiliar slang, code-words, it’s like a completely different dimension of communication.

Among the cast, you’ll instantly begin rooting for DI Luke to crack the case and figure out the true motive behind the teen girl’s murder, but guess what? He doesn’t even appear in the show in the second half. Which is fine, because ‘Adolescence’ turns to Jamie’s psyche in the third episode, introducing Erin Doherty as Briony Ariston, a mental health professional hired by the state to evaluate Jamie. It’s in this episode that Owen Cooper stands out as the hard to decipher teen, first introduced as a weepy mess, solemnly swearing his innocence, but in his interactions with Briony, he reveals shades of darker, more adult-like behavior, one which unsettles even the mental health professional.

The climactic episode tracks a day in the life of the Miller family, who struggle to maintain a ‘normal’ life after their son’s arrest. Amelie Pease plays Jamie’s older sister Lisa Miller, who stands by her parents like a rock through the ups and downs they face. With the case still ongoing, the parents introspect and wonder if they’re to blame for the violent crime – if their son really did murder the girl. “He was always in his room, on the computer,” they innocently tell themselves, as if a teen spending all his time on the internet is an indication that he is safe from the trappings of life.

Unfortunately, many parents who didn’t grow up with the internet fail to understand the fact that leaving your kid with active internet access isn’t the same as leaving them with a video game console and a cassette that has only 10 games. The worst thing the pre-internet child could do was crush some mushrooms, shoot some virtual ducks, or dream of becoming a circus manager. Concerns like cyberbullying, doxxing, and the constant comparison game fueled by likes and filters weren’t part of growing up. And that’s where Adolescence shines best – in subtly highlighting the dangerous effects of social media and the internet on children, something Bo Burnham explored equally well in Eighth Grade, albeit without the violent crime.

The only thing that left me feeling underwhelmed about ‘Adolescence‘ was the abrupt ending, which leaves viewers with several questions that the creators could’ve easily chosen to answer. It doesn’t give us closure – we never get to know what really happened on the night the girl was murdered, even though we’re given enough pieces of the puzzle to piece the story together ourselves. But sorry, I needed more closure, especially since this isn’t even based on a real-life case, although the creators were inspired by reality.

While ‘Adolescence‘ delivers a gripping take on juvenile crime, its sluggish pacing in certain portions may be a hurdle for some. And the ambiguous final chapter is likely to frustrate viewers who prefer clear, concrete endings.

Rating: 7 on 10. Watch ‘Adolescence’ on Netflix.

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Flowers of Evil Volumes 1 & 2 Review: A Disturbing Page-Turner

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Guilt and shame are strange emotions, they’re grey areas, and no one can decisively say which situations deserve them. Sometimes, guilt is as simple as feeling regret for taking a short nap after an exhausting day at work, even though those same minutes might have been spent watching cat videos online.

Shuzo Oshimi, in his manga ‘Flowers of Evil‘, explores the slightly more complex guilt and shame of being a teenager with a secret – of doing something on a whim without realizing the consequences. The manga dives into teen anxiety, moral dilemmas, and the dark side of adolescent desire.

Protagonist Takao Kasuga is a middle school student with struggling grades who loves reading Baudelaire and daydreaming about classmate Nanaki Saeki, the class topper. One day, when he impulsively “takes” something that belongs to Saeki, class bully Nakagawa sees it and threatens to expose him as a perverted thief, unless he agrees to a “contract” with her. This contract essentially means doing her bidding if he wants to keep his secret safe.

Despite its simple school setting, Flowers of Evil unfolds like a horror manga, with the primary focus on how Nakagawa, an asocial student, bullies Kasuga in twisted ways, despite the two also spending hours together like regular friends. But whenever Nakagawa sees Saeki around, she finds sick ways to humiliate Kasuga, a timid bookworm who doesn’t know how to escape her clutches.

Of course, the simple way out for Kasuga would be to destroy the evidence and label Nakagawa a liar if she ever decides to expose him. But despite that one aberrant act of stealing, he is an idealistic boy who deeply regrets his actions, even before realizing there was a witness. He also brands his own act a ‘sin’, with Shuzo Oshimi subtly (or perhaps deliberately) displaying how religious fear can be tormenting. Kasuga is primarily shackled by his own shame, Nakagawa simply is able to take advantage of his vulnerabilities.

Volume 2 of Flowers of Evil offers a big twist in the tale, with Saeki turning out to be a sweet, shy girl who appreciates Kasuga’s bibliophile side and even agrees to hang out with him. While Kasuga is over the moon to be spending time with his crush, this only gives Nakagawa more ammunition to bully him. She is foul-mouthed, short-tempered, and disturbingly adult in the way she manipulates Kasuga, tainting his worldview with her distorted notions of “perversion,” relationships, and sex.

While the artwork isn’t to my liking, it’s on the simpler side, and sometimes the drawings are just weird, but the story is quite the page turner. I was only planning on reading and reviewing volume one at first, but couldn’t stop myself from getting volume two immediately. This is a binge-worthy manga, and volume 2 ends in total chaos.

Rating: 4 on 5. ‘Flowers of Evil’ is available on Kindle Unlimited.

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